Many societies governed by theocratic and monarchical methods turned towards republican regimes in the first half of the 20th century. The republic, as a form of governance, was seen as the cornerstone of modern society and politics. However, only a few among them were able to establish a republican system that guaranteed the basic rights and freedoms of their citizens in accordance with pluralistic and democratic principles. The Republican cadres in Türkiye also couldn't avoid the trap of authori- tarianism. Despite Türkiye's recent parliamentary and constitutional history, it is not possible to argue that it has transitioned to a pluralistic, democratic republic with functioning mechanisms for effective political participation. This study suggests that during the establishment of the Republic, social and political opposition was weakened, and the idea of a strong government was embraced. This argument is discussed through the Hat Revolution (Şapka Devrimi) and the Independence Courts (İstiklal Mah- kemeleri). The modernization project of the Republic highlights the notion of popular sovereignty with the nation-state model. In this context, it foresaw a radical cultural transformation alongside po- litical change. Instead of a democratic republic that encompasses all segments of society and establishes the rule of law, an urgent path to modernization was pursued. The significant strides taken in this urgency had to be imposed on people either through consent, voluntary adoption, or, when consent was not given, through the state's mechanisms of coercion. This article opens a discussion on the Hat Law and the Independence Courts as the two pillars of the Republic revolutions, considering them as a project of societal engineering.